WIN Awards - Retail & Workspace Interiors Shortlist Announced

Following both enjoyable and stimulating jury sessions in London, WIN is delighted to announce the shortlist for the Workspace Interiors and Retail Interiors categories, the results of which are published on our website WorldInteriorsNews.com

The judging panel for the Workspace category was leading industry experts:

Jacob Loftus (JL)- Head of UK Investment, Resolution Property

Angela Jeng (AJ) – Project Director, John Robertson Architects

Fiona Livingston (FL) – Co-Founder Studiofibre

Sean Hatcher (SH) – Board Director, MCM Architecture

Mijail Gutierrez (MG) – Design Director, Perkins + Will.

The judging Panel for the Retail Category was leading industry experts;

Carmel Allen (CA)– Creative Director, LINLEY

Heike Bergamini (HB) - Senior Design Manager, SELFRIDGES & CO

Simon Kincaid (SK)– Project Director, Conran & Partners

Matthew Moore (MM) – Head of Creative, Jigsaw Group

Jon Tollit (JT) – Principal, Gensler.

Congratulations to all those who have been shortlisted, we received outstanding entries across both categories making the judges' decision ever more difficult.

The winners for each category be announced at an event at the end of the year, further details will be announced in due course.

The Swedish pharmaceutical manufacturer Octapharma is the only major industry left in the inner city of Stockholm. A few years ago the company outgrew it’s old premises and acquired the nearby Stora Bryggeriet (large brewery) and commissioned White to transform the space.

‘I like this project because of the romantic story and the understanding of the historical aspects. I thought it was calm, I thought it was controlled and in some aspects very clever, especially the elements of detail going right the way down to the etched signage on the copper pavilions.’ SH

The brief for Alphabeta was to take the existing Triton Court - empty, dated and difficult to use - and transform it into a contemporary space that could appeal to a new, more fluid and adept workforce. Located on the intersection between Shoreditch and the City, Studio RHE’s design objective was to reflect the merging creative, tech and financial sector industries shaping London’s new economy.

‘I love the vibe of the building; it feels very ‘of our time’. It is both consistent and relevant as an interior project.’ MG

An integral part of independent law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth’s strategy was to transform each of its offices into inspirational and innovative workspaces. Their vision was to create open, flexible and collaborative working environments to foster knowledge sharing and mentoring, innovation, client connectivity, mobility and use of leading technology.

‘This met the brief extremely well, a grown up and confident project using lovely materials.’ JL

MSD is a global healthcare leader based in Australia. Their new building embraces the notion of working that favours the acts of doing, making and problem solving in a critical yet collaborative environment. The building incorporates two theatres, a workshop, library, two exhibitions spaces, café, a series of studios and associated academic and professional workspaces with the studio hall.

‘A very strong scheme; a really holistic and dynamic village of creativity.’ SH

‘Beautifully presented, conceptually very strong.’ MG

‘This project stood out for me for the interesting geometrics of the design which has stamped an exciting narrative on the building.’ FL

‘I really enjoyed the story and the materiality of the project. I think the Studio Hall is very strong and dynamic.’ AJ

The SOHO 3Q co-working space is 20,000 sq. m with 3,500 desks – the largest of its kind in China. AIM created large activity elements and social spaces that served as nuclei for gathering, congregating and interacting.

‘To connect that many people running their own companies into a collaborate community is pretty challenging given the scale. The concept of treating the whole hub like an internal 3 storey shopping centre with a park in the middle thereby creating excellent connectivity across the space, is a wonderful vision for how you can create a collaborative and vibrant community.’ JL

This multi-disciplinary 140 sq. m design office is located on the ground floor of a historical Greek apartment in Istanbul’s design district area, Galata.

During the restoration, the frescos on the ceilings have been revived through a delicate workmanship. The walls in the main hallway, which is the entry and the center of the space have been peeled and the old Constantinople stamped bricks have been brought on the scene.

‘What I liked about this was actually its warmth. It has a certain charm about it,and a hint of fun as well. As this is their main office, I think a twist of fun suggests that they don’t take themselves too seriously which is good; it shows a certain confidence about who they are. I like the mix of traditional and modern, together with some really quite delicate touches in terms of the artwork and features. Overall, although it’s an office space, it has a warmth that is more akin to an apartment, certainly somewhere that I could imagine myself working.’ SH

The relocation of The Estée Lauder Companies UK & Ireland to One Fitzroy is the first time globally, that the business has brought together all of its brands and training facilities under one roof.

The vision for the new headquarters centred around the themes of family, home and community to support collaboration, agility, creativity and innovation. It was crucial that this was reflected in the design of One Fitzroy.

‘It’s a very luxurious design and great headquarters office. It really captures the Estée Lauder brand’ AJ

‘A beautiful translation of the brand as an experience with a high end retail quality to the space, you literally live the brand as you walk through it. Lovely detailing, and generally a very strong design ethos throughout.’ MG

HNK Centraal Station is an office that also showcases highlights of Utrecht. Based on the location of different points of interest within the city, different zones were created that informed the design. These zones are Centraal Station, the Dom, Rietvelds Schroderhuis, Rotsoord and HNK Utrecht (I). Walking through the entrance, various colours and styles indicate where the different areas are located.

‘I like the sustainable story behind this project, the use of second hand materials which is partly for budget reasons, but works well nonetheless. I like the cultural piece, where they have integrated the story of the City, and the way they have used artists and writers in the design so it’s a showcase for the City.’ MG

To avoid their architects and interior designers pulling in different directions Woods Bagot embarked on a consultative workplace strategy to gather feedback from all staff ranging from staff in IT, Architecture/Interiors, finance, marketing and the Principals of the practice. The feedback was an overarching desire to work collaboratively but to also enable a celebration of social gatherings and the studious nature of the collective.

‘What an exciting brief to have! But also an extremely challenging one. I think they have created an architectural space, which is really pretty exceptional, and I think some of the reasons behind that is because it is very honest in terms of its use. There are some great focus spaces, which will bring the studio together. There’s also an honesty about materials, they’re not trying too hard which, I think will make it more timeless, not too many gimmicks which one quite often sees. It’s just a simple and strong concept with amazing use of light and dark and shade, and I’m sure the people who work there along with any consultants or clients who visit the space will believe it to be a really exceptional space.’ SH

At the 5th floor of the new skyscraper ‘De Rotterdam’, Fokkema & Partners designed a new office for an international trade company. The interior celebrates the scale and character of the building, but above all it identifies with the characteristics of the company, where ‘bold’ and ‘corporate’ meet.

‘I think I like this because I would like to work there. It’s a very considered scheme, very calm, very controlled. I like the way that the sofa spaces are almost places that you could choose to go to. There’s a very interesting spectrum of workspaces, and the use of materials, which they have beautifully described, is a real range and breadth of hard and soft, as is the lighting. They have considered everything right down to the minutiae, so even the toilets have been considered. A really exceptional scheme.’ SH

Completed in January 2016, the interior design of this corporate office captures elegance through its simplicity. This humble sized office, all of 580 sq. m, comprises Directors’ cabins, conferencing amenities, client entertainment areas, support facilitators and services. The clients at Techno Electric & Engineers Co. Ltd. wanted their office to be minimalist in design, yet magnificent in style.

‘I like the hospitality feel of the project; it feels like a high-end hotel. I particularly like the use of heritage in a contemporary way, like the electrical equipment to create a feature wall. It’s a very layered, very textured scheme – a lovely place to work.' MG

RIGIdesign is a young design team based in Shanghai. The site is located in a creative complex building, which was reconstructed from a former factory. Founder Kai Liu’s brief for their new office was to create a space that would be both ‘emotional and simple with a connection with the people.

‘It’s a very cohesive and simple design, which cleverly showcases the design studio. I’d like to work there!’ AJ

‘I love the clarity and simplicity of the RIGIdesign office and the integration of graphics and colours, but also the friendliness and homeliness of the project. It’s a beautiful piece of design.’ MG

‘This project had a clear narrative and stands out as refreshingly different, with clever use of what I presume is a fairly low budget in comparison to many of the other projects.’ FL

Potamus Trading asked Elkus Manfredi Architects to design its new headquarters office in Boston’s Innovation District. The Potamus team of market traders, analysts, and technologists specializes in delivering high-speed electronic execution services to broker-dealers and large institutional traders.

‘I LOVE the hippo! I think it’s fun; I think it’s vibrant. The palette is quite restrained, but it’s used intelligently. Overall it creates a very nice working environment that still feels professional, relaxed and inviting’. MG

Located within the iconic Paramount Pictures building in Sydney’s Surry Hills, Paramount by The Office Space provides 22 handcrafted timber office suites across the 300 sq. m floor plate. Delivering a new concept in shared workspace, the design by Woods Bagot celebrates traditional joinery and artisan skills, while honouring the building’s heritage.

‘I believe this is a very strong project, primarily because it’s a really evocative piece of design. It’s a very holistic and well-considered piece from the concept right the way through to micro detailing. A very unusual and I think exceptional plan creating a whole series of interesting spaces and spaces between the spaces. The lighting creates interesting light and shade and finally I like the simplicity of the palette.’ SH

1888 Certified is a unique butcher in Double Bay. Their product is sustainable, grass-fed and hormone free. The clients being fourth generation farmers are authentic and steadfast in their sustainable practices. Therefore the interior had to align with this ethos, and help to tell the story of the producers, and it was important to the clients that their customers engaged with their story.

‘I’m not a big meat eater, but I think this project is quite exciting and makes you want to order fillet steak!. It’s beautiful and elegant and I particularly like the choice of marble that looks like the marbling on meat, and yet it elevates it and makes it rather special. The display of all the knives is arranged so beautifully, that you would be tempted to go in to see the ‘poetry of butchering’ for yourself.’ CA

A careful balance is inscribed in the installation proposed for the signature shop for Aesop on Fillmore Street in San Francisco. Born from the fascination with pre-20th century apothecaries and 21st century body care, the Fillmore Street shop responds to the specific spatial and programmatic contexts through material, circulation and fabrication.

‘It’s yet another one of those successful Aesop stores where they showcase their brand identity with different materials and different architects and designers. The simplicity of the store makes it so easy to shop because all the products are on one side. The use of reclaimed materials is obviously an extremely good thing.’ HB

‘As always Aesop have delivered a very pure brand environment. I particularly like the simplicity of materials used in a really committed way. Having all of the focus on one side of the store (product) is very impactful. I've visited this store in person and believe they've delivered a fitting but unique store for that particular area.’ MM

BuckleyGrayYeoman were commissioned by Fred Perry to design their latest international store within the new EM Quartier Mall, in Bangkok, Thailand. The brief was to bring the brand's iconic English identity to an already culturally rich city within a unit providing 365 sq. m of retail space.

‘Fred Perry Bangkok has a very engaging shop front. It’s a very confident brand experience, and perfectly lifts the product for this market.’ SK

‘I think this is a great design. I particularly love the sculptural facade/window. The execution is very sophisticated. The clean lines and references really help to elevate the product.’ MM

An unexpected situation with the lease required the design for the space to be as economical as possible and fast to build. Furthermore the shoe shelves were intended to be self-supporting, movable and ready for re-assembling. Effectively an independent piece of furniture, the installation could be moved easily and with minimal wastage.

‘This is a tiny little store - it’s like walking into a piece of sculpture. It’s notoriously difficult to display shoes, but the storage system they have used does the job and makes the space dramatic and dynamic at the same time. Using a simple stepped element is a designed piece that can be easily manufactured and installed and has created a unified environment that is both flexible and incredibly exciting.’ JT

The brief was to create a new retail concept for the brand Mouli and to design a space effective shop.

Guise’s response to the first issue was to build upon the existing values of the street brand Mouli and their interest in fine art. We addressed the concept of street art that lies within the identity of Mouli. Street art being unique in the sense that it emphasizes the place/position of the art as much as what is actually being painted.

‘The Mouli store is treating retail as a gallery; it’s a cool sophisticated space. What I like is the elevation of simple industrial materials into something of elegance and quality, and is following a concept through very thoroughly.’ JT

Nudie Jeans’ first New York repair shop is situated in Nolita on the corner of Bowery and Spring. The vast 420 sq. m space is the 20th location globally joining launches in London Soho and Shoreditch, Los Angeles, Stockholm, Oslo, Berlin, Tokyo, Osaka, Sydney and hometown Gothenburg. Offering full collections of organic unisex denim and men’s tops and accessories, the store has brought an eagerly anticipated free repair service on well-loved Nudie Jeans to New Yorkers.

‘The Nudie jeans store – although the design is not particularly surprising, it does feel like the perfect background for their service and the journey that goes with it. The mending stations, which are one of the core brand values, and the extensive and simple display, enhance rather than overtake the product.’ CA

The space has been designed based on the idea of emphasizing the value of products, so that the expressions of color tone and atmosphere are cold to encourage customers to touch the products.

‘The Raytext showroom is quite interesting in that the whole space has been designed to look like an apartment, thereby showcasing the furniture in a realistic environment. The colour scheme and materiality doesn’t overpower the product itself and it’s a good use of space.’ HB

The client requested a trend-setting design that included the most efficient infrastructure possible. With this in mind, Innocad developed an exceptionally well-designed shop concept that maximizes space usage and offers sufficient room for the hair salon’s varied working areas and functions.

Landini Associates was engaged by Aldi to reinvent their store experience and elevate customer perceptions in Australia, from the quality and freshness of the products, to the overall brand image. The scope of works included interior design, graphic design and all in-store communication including tone of voice.

‘Aldi is very much a discount and low cost supermarket, and yet Landini Associates have created a warm shopping experience, with lovely wide aisles and great lighting. All the produce looks very fresh, and feels more Wholefoods than discount, and just very confident and upmarket, anything but discount driven. It would be quite exciting to explore the aisles and do the shopping here rather than do it on the internet!’ CA

‘I like the approach. The use of natural materials (wood) and concrete makes it seem like more of a healthy, premium experience. The use of space makes it feel more luxurious and less 'supermarket'. The graphics and tone of voice really work in differentiating the store from low cost retail. Furthermore, the emphasis on fresh food (fruit and vegetables) contributes to an upgraded experience.’ MM

As the luxury bathroom retailer C.P. Hart approached the 40th anniversary of its flagship showroom in London’s Waterloo it undertook a major re-design and expansion project. The brief was to create a fluid, multifunctional space for the C.P. Hart team and their customers, to hone the concept of luxury while championing contemporary design, and above all, to communicate and consolidate the established C.P. Hart identity.

The project was completed in October 2015 and involved interior alterations to an existing 400 sq. m warehouse to house the expansion of Lune Croissanterie.

The client brief sought a design that enabled fluid and seamless production whilst also creating a celebration of the retailed croissants and pastries.

‘The project is extremely well designed and eye-catching. Located within a 400 sq. m warehouse, it is completely enclosed in glass so that the customer is able to see all the production phases. A clear layout enhances the customer flow. A carefully thought out and executed project.’ HB

South Korea’s leading retailer, The Shinsegae Group, have launched a new furniture and homeware brand to “take on IKEA” with an instinctively logical layout to offer customers an easier and more relaxing shopping experience in contrast to the overwhelming IKEA love-it/loath-it format.

The new brand, known as the “The Life”, recently unveiled its first concept store; an ambitious 3,000 sq. m shop-in-shop offering over 5,000 homeware products.

‘Creating the look and feel of your own home can be such a confusing and tricky time because there is so much choice out there, so I love the simplicity of the bird and the nest with the slogan ‘Build your Home Beautifully’. It is very sweet and gentle, which is a nice place to be when you are thinking about creating a home, and gives a really fresh concept to flat-packed furniture - something that has been around for a long time.’ CA

Chu’s initial proposal was centered around “The Secret Scripture Library”. Scripture libraries have been found around either in or under Buddhist temples for centuries and have an extended meaning of stored wisdom in Mandarin Chinese. The team found significant historical connections to the site, such as links to Daci Temple and one of the most famous monks in Buddhism - Xuan Zang of the Tang dynasty.

‘Fangsuo is designed to be a bookstore, but they have actually called it a cathedral ‘carrying wisdom, culture and attitude’. That’s a high aim, and yet they’ve managed to pull it off. It really does have this exciting feel about it, that makes you want to explore and discover all the different floors. The height of the ceilings gives it such a sense of authority and confidence, yet the images show lots of people browsing. Great lighting, and this wonderful escalator that opens out into this huge space, which would really appeal to children as well as adults. They’ve really cracked it, it’s lovely.’ CA

Georg Jensen’s new flagship store in Munich is located on one of the city’s luxury shopping streets, Maffeistrasse. The store concept is inspired by geometric, Scandinavian and Art Deco references, all originating from the Danish silversmithing brand’s rich history.

The client's brief expressed a wish to create a Scandinavian inspired, material-rich space where the merchandise would be highlighted in a sophisticated and minimalistic way. It was important for the client that the space would represent the brand and its heritage.

‘The product which is known for its simplicity is showcased brilliantly in this rigorous interior. The framing of the product is a consistent feature which works very well.’ SK

Max Mara renews and expands its flagship store in London, located in the prestigious Old Bond Street.

Structured on three selling floors, this space of almost 1,000 sq. m is one of the largest Max Mara stores of Europe. The keyword to this design is contrast: the succession of volumes and empty spaces, the ensemble of different materials, the combination of straight and curved lines, everything contributes in giving a unique look to the London boutique.

‘This project is beautifully executed. It has a combination of extremely luxurious material, with bare cement columns to showcase the architecture of the building. The furniture and fittings are well designed and display the product perfectly.’ HB

‘Truly modern and luxurious. The attention to detail and finishes are excellent. A real statement of authority for a brand flagship. The use of outdoor space is well considered and brings softness to the design. Clean, considered with a good dose of modern aspirational living.’ MM

Occupying an area of 450,000 sq. m, Qingdao’s MixC Mall is the largest of its kind in China. Integrated into the China Resources Centre, the mall is the new flagship for China Resources Land’s most high-end retail portfolio. Covering seven levels and three underground levels, the retail-led podium has one of the most extensive programmes for shopping centres in the country; bringing together Retail, Food and Beverage, Entertainment, Education and Culture.

‘It's notoriously difficult to create an experience and atmosphere in a huge shopping centre. What this does is take a concept and follow it through consistently, in large areas, but also down into small scale intimate spaces without overwhelming the retail and makes for a very enjoyable and understandable journey throughout the whole mall.’ JT

A multi-million pound investment designed by Waldo Works, the Customer Services Lounge offers a range of services including currency exchange, cash withdrawals, tax refunds, coat check, theatre bookings and a central information desk, and dedicated VIP area in an environment of ‘cool luxury’.At over 4,800 sq. m of prime retail space marks Selfridges’ commitment to their international customers, and triples in size the existing department.

‘This is an amazingly bold gesture by Selfridges to bring a back of house process into a high level customer hospitality experience. The reference itself to Selfridges’ history, exposing the building, the palm court and the deco detailing is executed superbly and really elevates the experience to something special. The quality of daylight and the integration of very high quality artwork into the space make it a unique experience.’ JT

‘Very well executed. It embodies everything you look for in your favourite hotel or favourite social meeting place. A place of calm. Clever use of colour and detail. The design feels truly international.’ MM